Well, if you wish to maintain cynicism, just tell yourself that he is doing it out of political expediency and not concern or respect for the people of Puerto Rico.posted by donkeymon at 6:51 AM on June 14, 2001

How's about the exception proves the rule?posted by trox at 6:58 AM on June 14, 2001

It may make you feel better that it's not ending until 2003.

Speaking as someone who has family & friends in the Navy and Marines, I hope a comparable training site can be found before they need to implement the skills they would have practiced on Vieques.posted by CRS at 7:06 AM on June 14, 2001

CRS - It would be nice if they could find someplace else to bomb besides a human-inhabited tropical paradise...posted by preguicoso at 7:10 AM on June 14, 2001

Yeah I been meanin' to tell ya. They've decided to start doing the navy testing in my bathtub. So he didn't do this cuz he likes Puerto Riccans. I just underbid.posted by ZachsMind at 7:10 AM on June 14, 2001

Mmmm. Tropical paradise. Now that the Navy has been told to shove off (get it?), Puerto Rico can proceed to develop the beaches on the navy reservation.

Oh, the Navy has been there for 60-odd years and the target area is 8 miles from the nearest town, about the same distance as other live-fire areas used by the Army and Air Force. It has acted to conserve wildlife and the environment on 97% of it's reservation (only 900 acres is actually used for live fire testing).

I hope P.R. continues to protect the land, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the evil corporations will soon move in to relieve Vieques' terrible economic situation by constructing all kinds of tourista accomodations.posted by CRS at 7:43 AM on June 14, 2001

I hardly know enough about Vieques to speak to whether this is wise, but it's probably a fairly clever move politically if Bush can get Republicans in Congress to go along -- I expect it will work wonders to shore up Pataki's support among Puerto Ricans in New York with a minimal expenditure in political capital.posted by snarkout at 7:52 AM on June 14, 2001

Most importantly, the Reverend Al Sharpton can end his hunger strike, eat a sandwich, and get back up to his fighting weight for his presidential run.

when Bush said "they don't want us there," who's "us"?posted by tolkhan at 11:17 AM on June 14, 2001

Ah yes, here we are:

(NYT, 15 June 2001)

"The decision was reached on Wednesday after a meeting among senior White House officials, including Karl Rove, President Bush's top political adviser, who has voiced concerns that growing opposition to the bombings had cost Mr. Bush critical support among Hispanic voters. Mr. Rove did not return phone calls on the matter today"posted by preguicoso at 12:10 PM on June 15, 2001

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